Blogs

by David Paul Appell

On my most recent visit to Iberostar’s ginormous Playa Paraíso spa facilities on Mexico’s Riviera Maya below Cancun, I decided to take a more in-depth look at the modern, elegant spa used by guests at all five resorts here. Situated at the back of the quaint town-plaza-style resort shopping center, it’s an impressive two-story affair open 365 days of the year, with 25 shower-equipped treatment rooms, each of which is identified by a mysterious-sounding Maya name (don’t worr

Tourism Tidbits for January is now on line.  Please contact me if interested in receiving it: ptarlow@tourismandmore.com.  Here is a portion on this month's theme: Luxury Travel.

Despite the worldwide recession, there is one area of the tourism market that is rapidly expanding, that is the upscale or luxury market.  Asian airlines, for example, have not only increased their first class capacity, but continue to offer a wide variety of this new luxury travel products.  In fact, the luxury travel m

Customized itineraries are an important aspect of authentic luxury travel. These days we like to focus on our individual interests and leave room in the trip plan for spontaneous detours.

This flexibility may enable staying longer than expected at a colorful marketplace or hiking farther than originally planned. It may also mean, as I learned a few years ago, being able to seize the moment and lend a hand in a developing country.

We stayed at the best hotels in Costa Rica and zoomed over the

Whether you're traveling on business or pleasure, you can spend your luxury holidays at the top luxury boutique hotels in the world. The following are some of the top luxury boutique hotels.

Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa, Miami

This is an award-winning hotel and spa located in the beautiful Miami, Florida.  This modern-chic hotel has an assortment of amenities ranging from wellness spa to fine dining.  The hotel accommodations are phenomenal, to say the least.  Amenities include HDTV systems with i

India has got a number of luxury trains. The Indian royals were for famous for their love of luxury trains. No sooner the luxury trains came in vogue with European royalty during the late 18^th century, the Indian princes were not to be left behind. The train presents a superb chance to explore the fabulous royal destinations of Rajasthan. Savor the regal attractions of Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, etc, besides visiting the iconic Indian attraction of Taj Mahal.  The comforts abroad the t

Customized travel, also known as “bespoke travel,” is my preferred way to travel and I love England, so you can imagine how excited I was to meet Glynn Burrows.

Here’s the pick-up line that won my heart:

“I love to travel, and when I travel, I don't want to be like an animal on a cattle-float. I want to go where I want to go to and see what I want to see. I want to experience local life and go down country lanes. I want to wander around little villages and look in tiny churches. I also want to g

When I first started writing about Authentic Luxury Travel no one seemed to know what I meant. Most folks thought that ALT was synonymous with five-star resorts and high-end cruise ships. In those days, I spent a lot of time defining “authentic” as it applies to travel.

But times have changed, and now a whole lot of people endorse the concept while acknowledging that it doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone.

Carsten Becker arranges custom itineraries in Germany and other parts of Europe thr

Swadee Ka. Relax in the cool azure blue pool as you gaze out at the secluded stretch of warm white sands, only a few feet away with the spectacular green jungle as your back drop.

The pool bar in the centre of the pool will serve you anything from an ice cold Singha beer to a freshly made coconut lassi, sweetened to your taste.

@dreamlandresort.net

If you prefer your fruit picked that morning you can buy a colossal bag of mouth-wateringly juicy pineapple or lychees from the 'wandering beach lady,'

This Indian-Ocean archipelago has in recent years become reknowned as a spectacular luxury beach destination, and one of its highest profile and most ambitious projects of the past two decades is the creation of a two-square-mile artificial island immediately north of the Maldives' capital Malé, and connected by bridge. Hulhumalé has become another wonderful destination known for its beaches, parks, water sports, and more. Here are eight of the island's top luxury beach resorts:

Hotel Ocean

Mandarin Oriental

Happy Year of the Pig! One of the most visited destinations in the world, Hong Kong is known for its futuristic buildings including towering skyscrapers, lush mountain backdrops, vibrant lifestyle, splendid harbor, friendly people, traditional corners, and a wide range of restaurants and cuisines, and a wide range of accommodations, including some of the world's best luxury city hotels. Here are five that top my list:


Mandarin Oriental

Offering majestic views of both the v

AgnosticPreachersKid

Just two blocks from the White House and within walking distance to everything the nation's capital has to offer, it's easy to see why The Willard InterContinental in Washington DC is known as the "Residence of Presidents" and has remained an anchor in a town that's undergone countless transformations over the hotel's 200-year existence.

In 1862, National Hawthorne wrote, "The Willard may be much more justly called the center of Washington and the Union than either the Cap